Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1927, Page 2

AVOAfEX IX A PANIC; XEW YORK, Aug. 2. Seeking refuge from a sudden downpour in a thunderstorm (58 passengers in the excursion steamboat Favourite on Lake Michigan rushed to the lee side. As the boat started to careen they stampeded to the other side, sinking the boat, and 27 of them were drowned. That more persons were not drowned was due to the fact that Air AY. A. Hofmiuer, a wealthy yachtsman, saw the accident and got bis captain to manoeuvre his large yacht alongside the Favourite, which was settling gradually in the mud. with its superstructure still above the water. The capti” jumped to tbe excursion steamer am! helped those floundering about in the lake aboard his boat. “They were mostly women and children,” Air llofnauer said. “Save my child.” “ Save rny mother.” “ Save my father,” we heard on all sides. Some ] of them, tearing at each other, ripped j away the clothing of those in front in their effort to reach the yacht. Others could not he persuaded to leave until they found their relatives and we had to fight finally to carry them off Inforce.

On the way ashore, the heavily laden yacht proved unwieldy and the passengers became panic-stricken, fearing that it too would capsize. Physicians were working on the beach for hours in the hope of reviving some of the people